Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders

The Rhodesian Ridgeback dog is presently the only registered breed indigenous to Southern Africa[citation needed]. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa where they crossed with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoisan people (native name - "Khoikhoi", but referred to by the English as the "Hottentots"). The Rhodesian Ridgeback in the earlier parts of its history has also been known as Van Rooyen's Lion Dogs, the African Lion Hound or African Lion Dog (Simba Inja in Ndebele, Shumba Imbwa in Shona) because of their ability to harass a lion and keep it at bay while awaiting their master to make the kill.

The original standard, which was drafted by F.R. Barnes, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), in 1922, was based on that of the Dalmatian and was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is the only breed besides the Thai Ridgeback and the Africanis of South Africa with a ridge of fur along the spine.